Assessment of solar electricity production in the United Arab Emirates

Abstract

In this work the possible large-scale integration of photovoltaic (PV) systems and parabolic trough concentrated solar power (CSP) technologies in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) power system is investigated in technical, economic and environmental terms. The analysis takes into account the available solar potential for UAE and in particular for the Emirate of Sharjah. In order to identify the least-cost feasible option for each renewable energy source for power-generation (RES-E) technology, a parametric analysis is carried out by varying each RES-E candidate system capital cost. From the analysis it is evident that an alternative cost-effective technology to the installation of a 50 MWp PV system might be the utilisation of a 50 MWe parabolic trough CSP system with either a 14.5 h thermal storage system or a 24/7 operation. The advantages of the latter are the dispatchability and the increased electricity output due to the utilisation of a thermal storage system, which leads to higher amounts of annual CO2 avoided emissions. However, the electricity selling prices are higher than the current UAE electricity tariffs; therefore, for the promotion of solar RES-E technologies in the UAE, relevant financial supporting mechanisms need to be developed such as feed-in tariffs or feed-in premiums.